The True Christ

ONE GOD ONE FAITH ONE CHURCH

“There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God 

and Father of all” (Eph. 4: 5-6).

     The Orthodox belief and the dogma of the Church is that there is one God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. He is the one true God in Trinity, Father Son/Logos and Holy Spirit, one God in three persons with one nature and one essence. He is the Holy Trinity. The Father eternally begets the Son and emits the Holy Spirit. The Son is the eternal Logos of the Father who became incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and He became Jesus Christ the Godman. He founded the Church on Peter’s confession: “You are the Christ Son of God.” Being both God and man, He became the Head of the Church which is His own body. As there is one God so there is one faith in the one Church, which today is known as the holy Orthodox Church. That faith is totally directed toward the Holy Trinity.

     The one Godman founded one church, which is one holy catholic and apostolic– the Body of Christ.

In the Church where there is that one faith there is also one baptism.  This baptism is performed with three immersions and emmersions. The believer is then totally immersed in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, this immersion is repeated three times. No other baptism can exist outside of the Church, for there is one Orthodox baptism done with three immersions.

     The one Faith is preserved by all Orthodox Christians wherein we worship one God in three persons, glorifying the Holy Trinity one in essence, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We sign ourselves frequently with the sign of the Cross going from the forehead to the abdomen and then to the right  and the left shoulders, having joined our thumb and next the two fingers together with the remaining two fingers pointing downward. If we bless anybody or anything, we always use the joined thumb and next two fingers and make the sign of the Cross over the person or thing. During the Divine Liturgy and during all private prayers we make the sign of the Cross on our persons. The sign of the Cross guards our souls and bodies and is an effective protection against dangers and many evils.

     When we enter or exit our cars is an ideal time to sign ourselves for constant protection and help Also before going for a walk and upon returning, for the sign of the Cross is both a protection and help at all times for everything. Also it is becomes to us a frequent spiritual reminder of him to whom we belong for we are not our own. So it  is good to use the sign of the Cross for every and any protection of person, animals or thing.

     There is one God and Father of all who we worship and reverence together with the Son and Holy Spirit, for He is one who made us and elevated us to the heights out of His goodness and love for man whom He created with His own hands. It is important to greatly honor the God who formed us and honored us first! For He is greatly worthy of all veneration and of our lasting thankfulness for His great mercy and generosity, and we can never offer enough thanks.

     We are nothing and God is everything! God is the Creator and we are created by Him. Man is so greatly honored by God that it is difficult for anyone to try to describe, for how can we compare the nothingness of man with God who is everything ? We did not even exist and God is always self existent. God is without beginning and has always existed, being perfect and the source and origin of everything good. He is all-knowing and all-powerful, filled with love and generosity. But we come from nothing and are not only made into something by God, but His plan is to make us equal to him in honor and glory! This is his plan and it is not possible for us to fully realize what this means for  it is beyond our understanding. 

     God said:  “Let us make man according to our own image and likeness.” These words should not be read over lightly. Their meaning is all important. God forms everything from nothing, and He formed man from the same source. So we are nothing but God decided to form man who would by dedicating his life become like God. This is the most beautiful thing that could ever happen! This too great to be throughly understood but is nevertheless true and accurate. No destination can be greater than to become just like God! Glory to Him may His mercy be upon us all.